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B. J. PALMER! MACHINE FOR APPLYING PHOTOGRAPHIG EMULSION T0 PHOTOGRAPHIGPLATES.

No. 313,761. Patented Mar. 10, 1885..

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MAUHINEPOR APPLYING PHQTOGRAPHIG EMULSION T0 PHOTOGRAPHIG PLATES. No.313,7 61.

Patented Mar. 10, 1885 01 @JVZZZM/ 4 m-Lnho n mr. waahin mn. n. (L

, U ITE dramas ELI J. PALMER, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-THIRD TO THEODORE SNELL, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PHOTOGRAPHIC EMULSION T PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,761, dated March10, 1885. Application filed July 7, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELI JOHN PALMER, of the city of Toronto, in thecounty of York. in the Province of Ontario, Canada, manufacturer ofphotographic material, have invented a certain new and useful Machinefor Applying Photographic Emulsion to Photographic Plates; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

The object of the invention is to insure an even and regulardistribution of emulsion over the face of the plate; and it consists,essentially, of a narrow vessel made substantially r 5 the length tocorrespond with the width of the plate on which the emulsion is to beapplied,

and provided with aporous apron,or its equivalent, designed to receivethe emulsion and distribute it on the plate, substantially ashereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the photographic plates arrangedon an endless apron designed to carry them under thedistributing-vessel, which is also shown connected to the urn from whichthe emulsion is obtained. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation ofthe urn and emulsion-reservoir from which the main supply of emulsion isfed to the distributing-vessel. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detailshowing the form of connection between the flexible tube leading to thedistributing-vessel and the interior of the emulsioureservoir. Fig. 4isan enlarged perspective view of the distributing-vessel and itsoperating mechanism. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are details of alternative formsof distributing-vessel when designed to be operated by hand. Fig. Sis asectional end view of the distributing-vessel shown in Figs. 1, 4, and7. Fig. 9 is a sectional end view of the distributing-vessel shown inFigs. 5 and 6. Fig. 10 is an elevation of endless belt and rack forreceiving the plates. Fig. 11 is a detail of elevator L.

As the object of my invention is to insure an even and regulardistribution of emulsion over the face of the plates, it will be seenthat this object will be attained by the distributing-vessel-such as Ishall hereinafter describewhether made in the form shown in Figs. 1 and50 4 or in the form shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

A represents the plates on which the emulsion is to be applied. Theseplates are arranged, as shown in Fig. 1, on an endless belt when it isintended to operate the distributingvessel automatically. This endlessbelt B is intended to be of sufficient length to carry the plates, afterreceiving the emulsion,through a drying-room, within which they may beautomatically discharged onto a rack arranged to receive them, ashereinafter specified. 6

O is the emulsion-reservoir contained within an urn, D. The bottom ofthis reservoir 0 is open, but is plugged and connected to the flexibletube E in the following manner: The body of the reservoir 0 is madepreferaby of 6 glass, and its open bottom fits overa soft-rubber plugmade to fit tightly into a hole made in the bottom of the urn D. Asshown in detail in Fig. 3, a hole is pierced through the plug, and ahard-rubber taperedferrule, a, is 7 fitted into the said hole.

I; is another tapered ferrule, designed to fit in the side of the mouthof the flexible tube E, so as to expand it and form a bell-mouthedopening from the reservoir 0 into the tube. 7 When the end of the tube Eis inserted into the ferrule a, and the ferrule 1) within the mouth ofthe tube is driven down into the ferrule a, a tight and solid joint isformed at the bottom of the reservoir 0, and the tube E is 8( at thesame time thus rigidly connected to the said reservoir. A piece ofsponge, 1", is inserted in the hole over the ferrules a and b to form afilter for the emulsion.

It will be noticed that the tube E is covered with a thick outercovering after it leaves the bottom of the urn D. This covering isintended to protect the flexible tube E, and prevent the emulsioncooling as it passes from the reservoir 0 to the distributing-vessel F.c

I should here mention that the urn D is intended to contain hot water ofsufficiently high temperature to keep the emulsion within the reservoir0 thin enough to flow freely through the tube E. 93

l is a flexible tube used to withdraw the water from the urn, which isdone by dropping the tube from the position it is shown in in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 8, the distributn ing-vessel consists of anopen boat-shaped vessel having a longitudinal slot made in its bottomand covered with an apron, 0, made of flannel or some other porousmaterial.

G represents a pair of spring-pinchers made to grip the end of the tubeE which projects into the distributing-vessel F. The spring in thepinchers G is sufficiently strong to tightly close the end of the tube Eand prevent the emulsion from escaping from the tube into the vessel F.

H is a lever pivoted on the baseboard I, and having a friction-roller,(Z, on one end which projects over the belt B. The other end of thelever is connected to one of thelegs of the pinchers Gby the cord orchain e,which cord or chain passes over a friction-pulley, f, .50 thatthe downward motion of that end of the lever H will impart a horizontalmovement to the end of the pinchers G, to which the cord or chain e isattached. This horizontal movement will, it will be seen, cause the endof the pinchers G, which grip the tube E, to open, and consequently theemulsion within the tube E is permitted to flow into the vessel F duringthe period that the said pinchers may be held open. The vessel F isjournaled or pivoted on the rod 9, which extends beyond the end of thepinchers G, as shown. The vessel F has also an arm, 72, so arranged thatas the belt 13 is moved the said arm will come in contact with theelevatingbridge 1', attached to the belt B, which action causes thevessel Fto rock upon the rod g, and be held clear of the belt B duringthe passage of the arm it over the said elevatingbridge i. A bridge, 9',is also attached to the belt B, so that it will come in contact with thefriction roller (1, in order to impart an upward rocking movement tothat end of the lever H, and a consequent downward movement to its otherend for the purpose of opening the pinchers G during the period that thevessel F is supported clear of the belt 13, as specified.

On reference to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be noticed that the plates A areheld to the belt 13, between projecting lips 7c, and that a distinctspace is left between each plate. The bridges i and j are located ateach of these spaces, and are so shaped that the vessel F is raisedclear of the belt B, and just sufficient emulsion admitted into thevessel F during the passage of the said space below the vessel F, andthe moment that enough emulsion has been ad mitted into the vessel F thesupply is cut off by the closing of the spring-pinchers G, andsimultaneously with this action the vessel F is dropped upon the nextplate A, which is then swept by the apron c, which conveys to and evenlydistributes upon the said plate the exact quantity of emulsion requiredto properly coat it.

rom this description it will be seen that when my machine is arranged towork automatically any number of plates A can be evenly and quicklycoated with the photographic emulsion without any attention from theoperator other than placing the plates upon the belt B. Although I thinkit will be pref erable to thus arrange my machine to work automatically,Figs. 5, 6. and 7 show how it may be operated by hand.

On reference to Fig. 7 it will be seen that the spring-pinchers G gripthe end ofthe tube E exactly in the same manner as already described;but that instead of automatically opening the pinchers they may beopened by squeezing the hand which grips them, the required quantitybeing admitted into the Vessel F by the eye of the oparator, who, whenhe has filled the vessel, simply draws the apron over the surface of theplate A. thereby conveying the exact quantity required to properly coatthe plate, and as the emulsion will flow evenly over the surface of theapron 0 it is therefore evenly distributed over the whole surface of theplate.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 9 I show an alternative form of myemulsion-distributing machine when used by hand. In this form thedistributingvessel F is cylindrical, anda valve, m, is placed betweenthe mouth of the flexible tube E and the interior of the vessel F. Thisvalve is opened by the lever n, the operator learning by experience theright time to hold the valve open for the purpose of filling theinterior of the vessel F. Alongitudinal slot, 0, is made in the bottomof the vessel F, and an apron, 0, extends from below the said slot, soas to close it when the slot rests against it; but when the cylindricalvessel F is raised by pressing laterally against the lever 19 the slotis opened and permits the escape of the emulsion within the vessel F,which flows down the apron c to the plate over which the said apron isdrawn.

'When the emulsiondistributing vessel F is made in the form shown inFigs. 5, 6, and 9, it may be gripped, as shown in Fig. 5. The operatorfirst pressing on the lever n, admits sufficient emulsion from thereservoir 0, to which the vessel F should be connected, and aft-er thusfilling the vessel the operator draws the apron over the face of theplate, opening at the same time the slot by pressing against the leverp, as herein specified. The small tubes q permit the escape of air, andthereby allow the emulsion to flow freely into the vessel F.

In Fig. 6 it will be noticed that the vesselF the cooling emulsionaround it a certain amount of warmth. The capacity of the vessel F canalso be regulated by the diameter or length of the tube 8, for byincreasing its diameter the capacity of the vessel F will be reduced; orif the tube 8 is made shorter than the space within the vessel F, thenthe capacity of the vessel will be correspondingly increased.

Before concluding my description of the vessel F it will be well tomention here that although it will be preferable to have the vessel of alength corresponding in width to the plates to be treated, it will ofcourse be understood that different widths of plates may be treated withthe same instrument, the only change being necessary is to reduce orincrease the length of the apron, and to'either so regulate the supplyof the emulsion or to make provision for increasing or decreasing thecapacity of the vessel F, as suggested by the description of the tube.9. I however consider this, as before stated, simply making the vesselsubstantially the same length as the width of the plate to be treated.

In Fig. 10 will be found an illustration of the mechanism employed todischarge the plates A from the belt B onto the rack. I might heremention that before the belt B reaches the platerack it passes through arefrigerator, A, (shown in Fig. 10,) so that the emulsion on the platescarried by the belt will be congealed before they reach the plate-rackJ, onto which they are finally stacked. which plate-rack is of courselocated in the dryingroom. The plate-rack J is held within a verticalframe, K, so that it may slide vertically within the said frame. Theplate-rack J rests upon the elevator L,which is provided with aratchetrack, M.

N is a ratchet-pawl pivoted on the frame K, and provided with a spring,1), designed to hold the pawl N into gear with the ratchetrack M.

O is a corresponding pawl provided with a similar spring, but pivoted ona lever, P, which extends up to a point close to the belt B, asindicated.

On the side of the pulley Q around which the belt B passes I place aseries of pins, it, which are designed to come in contact with the lugsV and \V on the lever I. The effect of the contact of these pins withthe lug is, first, that when the pin it comes in contact with the lug Vthe lever P is pushed over into the position it is shown in in dottedlines, and as the said pin continues around the said drum it comes incontact on the opposite side of the lug W, pushing the lever back intothe position it is shown in in full lines in the figure. This motion ofthe lever 1? produces two effects viz. first, it carries the plates Afrom the belt B into the platerack J, and, secondly, when pushing thelever B back into the initial position, it raises the plate rack oneshelf, ready to receive the nextplate. I should here mention that aconveying-table is supported by the lever P, which,it should bestated,is duplicated on the other side of the rack.

The pins to are so set on the pulley Q that they do not move the lever Buntil the plate has first been pushed onto the conveying-table R by thetraveling action of the belt B. As soon as this is accomplished the beltcomes into act-ion and the lever conveys'the table B into the rack,where it drops the plate onto one of the ledges formed in the rack andreturns for the next plate.

When the distributing-vessel is to be manipulated by hand,sometimes,asshown in Fig. 5, a guiding-plate (marked 3) is used on which the notchedrod 2, attached to the distributingvessel, slides. This guide enablesthe operator to carry the distributing-vessel evenly over the face ofthe plate.

I am aware that it is not new to use a series of belts for conveyingphotographic plates from a distributingvessel through a coolingchamber,and do not claim such, broadly; but, so far as I am aware, it has neverbeen proposed to convey the plates under the distributing-vessel andfrom thence through a refrigerator by means of one continuous belt.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. In a device for applying emulsion, anarrow vessel made substantially of aclength to correspond with thewidth of the plate on which the emulsion is to be applied, and providedwith a porous apron or its equivalent designed to receive the emulsionand distribute it on the plate, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. In a device for applying emulsion, a narrow vessel made substantiallyof a length to correspond with the width of the plate on which theemulsion is to be applied, and having a longitudinal slot made at ornear its bottom to permit the escape of the emulsion onto a porous apronthrough which the emulsion is applied to the plate.

3. A distributing-vessel, F, journaled on the rod 9, and having an arm,h, attached to it, in combination with the bridge 2', attached to thetraveling belt B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The distributing-vessel F, journaled or pivoted on the rod 9, andprovided with an arm, h. the springpinchers G, arranged to grip the endof the flexible tube E, and the lever H for operating the said pinchers,in combination with the bridges i and 7', connected to the travelingbelt B, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

5. The spring-pinchers G, arranged to grip and close the end of theflexible tube E, and connected, as described, to the pivoted lever H, incombination with the bridge j, connected to the traveling belt B,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The distributing-vessel F, journaled, as described, and supplied withemulsion from a flexible tube, E, closed by the pinchers G, incombination with a traveling belt, B, having plates A held on itssurface, as described, and bridges i and j, arranged to operate thevessel F and pinchers G, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. An emulsion-reservoir, C, placed within IOC a hot-Water urn, D, andhaving afleXible tube, E, connected with the bottom thereof, andarranged to convey emulsion to the distributingvessel F, in combinationwith the sponge 1', inserted in a recess in said reservoir 0, over themouth of said tube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. A soft rubber plug arranged to close holes in the bottoms of thereservoirGand urn D, a hard-rubber tapered ferrule, a, inserted in acorrespondinglyformed hole in the said plug. in combination with aflexible tube, E. having a hard-rubber tapered ferrule, b, inserted inits mouth and forced into the ferrule a, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

9. In combination with adevice for distributing photographic emulsion onplates, an endless traveling belt, B, having projecting lips k andbridges z i, placed on the surface, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

10. A horizontal endless traveling belt, B, having projecting lips it,placed on its surface for holding the plates A, in combination with atraveling shelf placed at the turning-point of the endless apron, andarranged substantially on a level with the top of the belt to re ceivethe plates A, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. An endless apron, B, having projecting lips k, to retain in positionthe plates A, in combination with a rack, K, arranged to hold a seriesof shelves, and automatically operated so as to bring an empty shelfbefore each plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a machine for applying photographic emulsions, the combination ofa distributingvessel, as F, refrigerator, as A, rack K, and a travelingbelt, B, arranged to convey the photographic plates under thedistributingvessel, and from thence through said refrigerator, anddeliver them to said rack, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

13. The combination of an endless traveling belt, movable plate-rack.and a reciprocating conveyer-table situated intermediate of said beltand rack, substantially as described.

Toronto, June 19, 1884.

E. J. PALMER.

In presence of CHARLES C. BALDWIN, DONALD O. RIDoUT.

